Central-station apparatus



Oct. 8, 1929, F. R. TAISEY CENTRAL STATION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 18, 1928 y l J a 5 2 5% .e Fri 00000000 0 .OOOOOOOOO 0000000600 5 DDjDD D DUEDD v 0000 K ooooooo w wmww wwwwm l w ooooooo o; VIM3..v 3O 33 -0000000 wooob ooo 0o 00. oooooo [IM IIW oomooo 000 00. .snNWT L T F Rh n GQ UG CC CC e 8km? O 3, 1929' F. R. TAISEY ,73 ,832

CENTRAL STATION APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if? a f7@22- WW- ali jytl Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDR. TAISEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OFSYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF IEASSACHUSET'I'S CENTRAL-STATIONAPPARATUS Application filed May 18,

This invention relates to central station apparatus useful in despatchsystems wherein carriers for merchandise, papers, money, etc. arereceived at a central point from any of a plurality of outlying stationsand from which central station such carriers, after removal, exchange,or inspection of their contents, are returned to the respective sendingstations. F or purposes of illustration the invention is hereinexplained as applied to the central station of a carrier despatch systemof that type commonly employed in stores, and wherein the carriers aretransmitted to and from the central station through pneumatic tubes. Thepatent to Whittier 1,365,428 dated January 11, 1921 may be referred tofor a full discussion of the advantages of a proper relation of theactivity of such a station to the central station facilities and for itsinstances of improved central station han- (lling of the traific in. acarrier-despatch system of this general type. However, while theapparatus of thelVhittier patent is adn'iirably qualified to perform itsintended function in unacceptable and efficient manner, its complexityand cost prevents its adoption in some establishments where, althoughthe problem of handling carriers is milar to that described by Whittier,limitalions of space and capital necessitate simplification of structureas compared with that of Whittier.

In accordance with the present invention I provide central. stationapparatus of simple and inexpensive type, but having sufficientflexibility of operation to permit economical ati'ioiulance regardlessof fluctuations in the volume of business.

In. th 1, accompanying drawings I have illustrated by way of example onedesirable embodiment of the invention, together with certainmodifications thereof, and in the drawings Fig. i is a diagrammatic,fragmentary plan view of a central station apparatus embodying thepresent invention; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic front 0, ovation of the left handand central portions of the central station apparatus shown 1n Fig. l g

1928. Serial No. 278,670.

F 3 is a vertical section to larger scale, substantially on the line 33of Fig. 2;

Fig. 41- is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a modifiedarrangement of the lefthand end of the central station apparatus;

5 is a fragmentary plan View of the left-hand portion of the apparatusshown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on the .e 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

1* 1g. 7 is a fragmentary verticalsection on the same plane as Fig. 3,showing a preferred arrangement of carrier-distributing means at oneside of the desk.

Referring to the drawings, the central station apparatus is shown ascomprising an elongate desk 1 of such a width that carriers and 3 ofdelivery terminals adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of thedesk, a central. group 4 of delivery terminals, and groups 5 and 6 ofdespateh terminals arranged respectively between the central group 1 andthe end groups Qand The groups Sand 6. of despateh terminals determinethe positions of cashiers stations, indicated by the seats 7 and 8 foroperators. Preferably, cashiers are arranged at opposite sides of thedesk and there maybe several cashiers at each of the stations 7 and 8,it being understood that the despatch terminals of the groups 5 and 6are within reach of cashiers at stations 7 and 8 respectively.

Preferably the desk top is provided with some means at the cashiersstations to prevent carriers from rolling off. Such means may consist ofsubstantially parallel rails 10 and 11 of such a height as to preventcarriers from rolling out and escaping from the space or channel betweenthem, but of insuflicient height to interfere with the removal of thecarriers by the cashiers. The top of the desk is flat and may constitutethe support for the carriers in the space between the rails 10 and 11.If desired, such support may consist of a moving belt or other usualform of conveyor resting upon the upper surface of the desk or moving ina depression in such surface. On the other hand, in place of the spacedguard rails 10 and 11, the top of the desk may have a depression orchannel there in, and when hereafter I refer to a support for thecarriers at the cashiers stations I intend to include any suitablemeans, whether movable or stationary, upon the carriers may rest inposition to be grasped by the cashier.

The group a of delivery terminals substantially coincides with theposition of the charge authorizers station 9. Under ordinarycircumstances, a single authorizer at one side of the desk may take careof all of the charge transactions but, if necessary, a second authorizermay be arranged at the oppositeside of the desk, as she vn at 9, inwhich event a certain portion of the charge carriers are diverted to theauthorizer at the point a by mechanism hereinafter more fully described.

Preferably each of the groups 5 and 6 of the tubes contains one specialdespat h terminal 12 through which carriers may be delivered to theauthorizers station, and a second tube 13 leading back from theauthorizers station to the cashiers station.

The delivery terminals of the group l are provided with separators forseparating cash and charge carriers, and pr ferably the deliveryterminals of the groups 2 and 3 are likewise provided with separators.Referring particularlyto Fig. 3 I have indicated a pair of tubes 14 and15 leading from outlying stations to the central group t of deliveryterminals, each tube 14 and 15, as well as the others of the group beingprovided with a terminal structure indicated generally at 16. Each ofthese terminal structures comprises a separator device 17, 18, etc., theseparators of alternate tubes being arranged in reverse relation as isusual in order to save space. As thus arranged, the cash carrierdischarge nozzles 19 and 20 form adjacent inner groups, while the chargecarrier delivery nozzles 21 and 22 form outer groups which are morewidely separated. The nozzles 19 and 20 of the group of tubes 4 delivertheir carriers into one or the other of a pair of downwardly divergentchutes or inclined guideways 23 and 24, 2). The guideways 23 and 2a areso arranged that carriers sliding down them are delivered onto the desk-atthe cashiers stations 7 and 8 respectively.

On the other hand, charge carriers delivered from the nozzles 21 dropinto one or the other of a pair of downwardly converging chutes orinclined guideways 25 and 26 (Fig.

2) from which carriers are discharged onto a suitable deflector 27substantially oppo-- site to the authorizers station 9, and from whichthe carriers fall into a suitable pocket or depression 28 in the uppersurface of the desk 1. Likewise charge carriers delivered from thenozzles 22 fall into one or the other of a pair of downwardly convergingchutes 25 which deliver the carriers onto an inclined deflector 29 downwhich they roll into the pocket 28.

ll hile, as shown in Fig. 3, the deflector 29 may be of unitary andstationary character, I prefer to make this deflector as shown in Fig. 7As thus constructed it comprises the uper stationary part 29, the lowerstationary n L 29 and the central movable part 30, piv- The lower edgeof the part 30 is 33 to a plate 32, which in turn is hinged at 34 to aplate 35 hinged at 36 to a portion of the desk structure. lVhen the part30 is ali ed with the parts 29 and 29 it in the same way as thedeflector 29 as shown in Fig 3, but when the part 30 is swung to theposition shown in Fig. 7 in dotted lines, an opening is left between itand the part 29 through which carriers delivered from the chutes and 26drop onto the plate 32 which, with the part 35 and the lower part of thepart 30, forms a pocket for receiving these carriers and from which theymay be readily removed by the authorizer at the station 9. Any suitableretaining means, not shown, may be provided for holding the part 30 inthe desires position.

I also arra ge inclined chutes or guideways 37 and 38, respectively.adjacent to the opposite ends of th desk. If the delivery tubes of thegroups 2 and 3 are provided with separators, I prefer to construct thesechutes 37 and 38 as shown, for example, in Figs. 5 and 6. In this caseeach chute has the outer side walls 39 and l0 and intermediatepartitions dividing it into three guideways 41, 42 and i3, the middleguideway l3 being wider than the outer guideways. In Fig. 6 I have sh wna pair of tubes ll and (of the group 2 or 3 such tubes having theseparators l6 and a These separators are so arranged thatall of thecharge carriers are delivered into the central channel 43, while thecash carriers drop into the channels 41 and 42 resp ct'vely. The lowerend of the channel 43 is closed by a guard member 49 but just in advanceof this guard the bottom of the channel has an opening 50 leaning into apneumatic pick-oil tube 51 which extends to a point adjacent theauthorizers station where it may, as shown in 2, have a terminal portion52 delivering carriers into the chute 25, it being understood that asimilar tube connects the right-hand chute 38 with the authorizersstat-ion.

As thus arranged, cash carriers 5% (Fig. 5) sliding down the chute 37,are delivered at the cashiers station 7 While charge carriers 53 passdown into the tube 51 and are automatically delivered at the authorizersstation from which, after the proper transaction has been performed,they are despatched and returned to the cashier through the terminal 13.

In Fig. i I have shown a slight modificati on of the end chute of thedesk. This chute is indicated at 37 and provides, but a single channelinto which all carriers are delivered, the tubes of the group 2 beingunprovided with separators. In this event the cashiers at the eashiersstation pick up the charge carriers and transmit them through theterminal 12 to the authorizers station.

In the above description no attempt has been made to include the minordetails of construction which are common to central station apparatus ofthis general type, it being understood that such detail features as arenecessary for the proper operation of such apparatus Will be supplied ina manner well known to those skilled in the art. It is furthermore to beunderstood that while I have herein, for convenience, referred to cashand charge carriers, the terms cash and charge have been employed merelyfor convenience in designating carriers of two distinct lasses and I donot intend by the employment of these terms to limit myself to the typeof transaction which is to be performed or to the contents of thecarriers of the two classes employed.

Obviously, various changes in detail in the proportions and arrangementof parts and the substitution of equivalent elements for those hereinillustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and I eonten'iplate that the principle of the invention may befound useful in apparatus employing a large or smaller number ofterminal tubes and operators stations than here illustrated.

I claim:

1. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a pair ofgravity chutes extending lengthwise of the desk and arranged to deliverat points each substantially midway of the width of the desk but spacedlongitudinally thereof, and means for dis charging carriers of one classinto one chute and carriers of another class into the other chute. I i

2. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a pluralityof inclined guideways down which carriers may slide by gravity, saidguideways extending longitudinally of the desk and delivering thecarriers at points spaced lengthwise of the desk, respectively, apneumatic tube for conveying carriers of diiferent classes to thestation, and means for separating said carriers by classes and fordelivering carriers of dilferent classes into diiierent inclinedguideways.

A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk having operatorsstations at opposite sides thereof, means for conveying carriers of aplurality of classes down. which they slide onto the desk at a pointwithin reach of both operatofis stations, and another inclined guidewhich receives carriers of another class and along which said carriersslide to a point remote from said operators stations.

at. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, av seriesof carrier-delivery terminals, each terminal having means for separatingcarriers of one class from those of another, an inclined guideway forreceiving carriers of one class, and a pair ofinclined guidewaysarranged to receive carriers of the other class, all of said guidewaysextending longitudinally of the desk and having their delivery endsdisposed intermediate the opposite sides of the desk.

5. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a series ofcarrier-delivery terminals,-each terminal having means for separatingcarriersof one class from those of another, an inclined guide'way forreceiving carriers of one class, and a pair of inclined guidewaysarranged to receive carriers of the other class, the guideways of saidpair sloping oppositely to the first-named guideway, all of saidguideways extending longitudin ally of the desk and arranged to depositcarriers at points substantially midway of the width of the desk.

(3. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a series ofcarrieiudelivery terminals, each terminal having means for separatingcarriers of one class from those of another, an inclined guideway forreceiving carriers of one class, and a pair of inclined guidewaysarranged to receive carriers of the other class, the guideways of saidpair being substantially parallel and sloping oppositely to thefirst-named guideway, all of said guideways extending longitudinally ofthe desk.

7. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a series ofcarrier-delivery terminals, each terminal having means for separatingcarriers of one class from those of another, an inclined guideway forreceiving carriers of one class and a pair of inclined guidewaysarranged to receive carriers of the other class, and means for directingcarriers delivered from the guideways of said pair to a common point,all of said guidcways extending lengthwise of the desk.

8. A central station apparatus comprising a series of carrier-deliveryterminals, each terminal having means for separating carriers ofoneclass from those of another, an inclined guidewayfor receiving carriersof eneclass and a pair of inclined guideways I arranged to receivecarriers of the other class,

and met as operating alternatively to direct carriers delivered from thegui leways of said pair to the same or dit'ierent points r spectivel y.

9 it central station *1 tus comprising an elongate desk, a scri icarrier-delivery 'ing means for separating carri s from those ofanother, an inc-liner guideway for receiving; carriers one class L i d apair of inclined guideways arranged to receive carriers of the otherclass, all of said guideyvays extending longitudinally of the deslr, andconveyor neans for receiving all carr ers from the ingle guideivav andfor delivering them to a JOlllt from that at which carriers aredelivered by the pair of guideways.

10. A central Sl'QlIlOL 'ns coinpri nip;

an elongate desk, s -ier-deli-Jcry terminals, each ternn se aaracingarriving car vergent chutes arranged to re one class from the separatipair of downwardly ranged to receive carrier from t 1e separating ineaextending longitudinal having their delivery ends inter 7 sides of thedesk.

11. A central station apparatus comprising a .eries of carrier-delivcryterminals, 2 pair of inclined guideways, nicans associatu with saidterminals tor delive from sonic terminals into one from other terminalsinto the othand means operative to divert both gnideways to a connnonpoint or natively to separate points.

12. A central station app ing; a series of carrier-deliv pair ofinclined gnideways, 311G311 associa' with said terminals for deliveringill from some te ininals into one guideivay and from other ternnnalsinto the other guideway, and a deflector coin; oint o are dispo, r,

parts adapted, when its parts in one relation, to dir ct car ers fromone a charge authorize i guidewa to the point of deliv of carriers fromthe second gnideway, and when disca e-ct ca riers posed in anotherrelation to from the first gnideway to :r point.

13. A central station apparatus compris- 1 a H te nesk, a casincr s sstation, said stations being spaced longitudinally of the desk, a

pair oi inclined guideways down riers slide by graity, the carriers iiguideway being delivered to the cashier's tion and the carriers from thesecond gait way being delivered to the horizer, s tion, and means fordepositing cash carriers in the first-named of said guideways and chargecarriers in the second oi: said guideways, L119 delivery ends of all ofsaic. guide ways being substantially midway of the width of the desk.

l l. A central station apparatus comprising adesl: having support forcarriers, said support being accessible to a cashiers station at theside of the desk, a group of delivery L terminals to the right and tothe left respect ot the caslners station, each terminal h means toseparating charge and cash carrieis, and downwardly converging inclinedchutes arranged to deliver carriers to the support, the cash carriersonly delivered by the to :ninals of both groups, sliding down es ontosaid (211d chn support.

15. A central station apparatus comprising a dcslt lie-.ving support torcarri aid stuport being; accessible to cashiers station a :loslr, agroup delivery j t and to the left res ect: rs station, each ternni ll 71 arating cln i, e and cash carriers, and downwardly conv rg'inginclined chnt arranged to deliver c: rriers t the support, the ashcarriers delivered by t as terminals out both groups sliding doin saidsuppot, and i chute a 50111 cashiers station and ed a we 3.

station apparatus comprising carrier-delivery terminals, each avinineans tor separz ting arr-n:-

of one class from those of at other, i -11 rs station at substantiallythe le 0t said series, llii lllletl c'uideways a downwardlv in oppositedirections to siopii i C ward the receiving r is, one group at leastbeing provided with means for separating carriers into two classes, a)air of chates inclining toward on operators station in delivering carrs to the latter and an inclined chute for delivering carriers to theother operators station, one chute oi"- the pai' receiving all carriersfrom one goup of terminals and the second chute receiving all carri oione class only from the other group of terminals, carriers of the otherclass from the latter group being deposited in the chute leadin to thesecond operators station.

18. A central station apparatus coinprisin 1 elong te de, it having acharge authorizei" tion intermediate its ends, and cashiers te sides ofthe authorizens so ilOllS at opposi station, groups of carrier-deliveryterminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectivelyof the desk, the terminals of the central group, at least, comprisingmeans for separating cash and charge carri rs, an inclined chuteadjacent to each end ol. the desk, said chutes toward the adjacentcashiers stations respectively, oppositely inclined chutes at the centerof the desk diverging tor and the cashiers stations respectively, a pairof inclined chutes at the center of the desk coin ging downwardly towardthe authorizer s station, the terminals of the end groups deliveringtheir r carriers into the end chutes and the terminals of the middlegroup delivering cash carriers into the diverging central chutes and thecharge carriers into the converging central chutes.

19. A central station having a charge.

authorizers station and cashiers stations at opposite sides of theauthorizei"s station, groups of carrier-delivery terminals adjacent tothe authorizei."s station and to the cashiers stations ri-spcctively,the terminals oi the central group, at least, comprisin means torseparating cash and charge carriers, inclined end chutes, said chutessloping downwardly toward the adjacent cashiers SL tlons, respectively,oppositely inclined central chutes adjacent to the authorizers station,said latter chutes diverging toward the cashiers Sta-- tionsrespectively, a second pair of inclined central chutes convergingdownwardly toward the authorizefs station, the terminals of the endgroups of terminals delivering their carriers into the end chutes andthe terminals of the middle group delivering cash carriers into thediverging central chutes and charge carriers into the converging centralchutes, and means tor transn'iitting charge carriers delivered from eachend group oi terminals to the authorizers station and for returning suchcarriers to the cashiers station.

20. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk having acharge authorizers station intermediate its ends, and cashiers stationsat opposite sides of the authorizers station, groups of carrier-deliveryterminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectivelyof the/desk, the terminals oi the central group, at least, comprisingmeans for separating cash and charge carriers, an inclined chuteadjacent to each end of the desk, said chutes sloping downi ardly towardthe adjacent cashiers stations respectively, oppositely inclined chutesat the center of the desk diverging toward the cashiers stations,respectively, two pairs oi inclined chutes at the center of the desk,the chutes of each pair converging downwardly toward the authorizersstation, the terminals of the end groups delivering their carriers intothe end chutes, respectively, and the terminals of the middle groupdelivering sloping downwardly cash carriers into the diverging centralverging central chutes, and means for trans mitting charge carriersdelivered from the end groups of terminals to the authorizers station.

21, A central station apparatus comprisin g an elongate desk havingacharge authorizers station. substantially midway its length andcashiers stations at opposite sides of the au'thorizers station, groupsof carrier-delivery terminals adjacent to the middle and to the oppositeends respectively of the desk, the tern'iinals of the central group, atleast, comprising means for separating cash and charge carriers, aninclined chute adjacent to each end of the desk, said chutes slopingdownwardly toward the adjacent cashiers stations respectively,oppositely inclined chutes at the center of the desk diverging towardthe cashiers stations respectively, a pair of inclined chutes at thecenter of the desk converging downwardly toward the authorizers station,the terminals of the end groups delivering their carriers into the endchutes, respectively, a n d the terminals of the middle group deliveringcash carriers into the diverging central chutes and charge carriers intothe conierging central chutes, and a pneumatic tuhe tor transmittingcharge carrisers delivered from each of the end groups of terminals toone of the converging chutes at the authorizers station.

22. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk having acharge authorizers station intermediateits ends and cashiers stations atopposite sides of the authorizers station, groups of carr:icrdeliveryterminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectivelyor the desk,'the terminals oi? the central group, at least, comprisingmeans for separating cash and charge carriers, an inclined chuteadjacent to each end oi the desk, said chutes sloping downwardly towardthe adjacent cashiers stations, respectively. op 'iositel'y inclinedchutes at the center ot the desk diverging toward the cashiers stationsrespectively, a pair of inclined chutes at the center of the deskconverging downwardly toward the authoriaefls station, the terminals ofthe end groups delivering their carriers into the end chutes,respectively, and the terminals oft the middle group delivering cashcarriers into the diverging central clnites and charge carriers into theconverging central chutes, the end chutes having separate guideways forcharge and cash carriers, and a pneumatic tube arranged to receive thecash carriers from the guideway of each end chute and to transmit suchcarriers to one of the converging chutes at the authorizers station.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass, this 3rd day of May, 1928.

FRED R. TAISEY.

